DEQ accepting public comments on Dow Chemical Company cleanup report

The DEQ is seeking public input on a report from the Dow Chemical Company describing its efforts to clean up the soil in Midland, and detailing its future plans for long-term monitoring and financial assurance.

The report is the final step in a years-long cleanup of soil contaminated by historic, airborne dioxin emissions from Dow. Under the DEQ’s supervision, Dow sampled soil from more than 1,600 residential and residential-like properties in Midland. At more than 130 homes, the company removed and replaced the top 12 inches of soil before restoring the lawns and landscaping. More than 98 percent of affected homeowners agreed to participate in the cleanup.

The report describes the type and extent of the historic contamination, provides an overview of the cleanup activities conducted during the past several years, documents the completion of that work, and provides a process for long-term monitoring plans and mechanisms to ensure any future changes will not compromise the cleanup’s long-term effectiveness. The DEQ required the report as part of Dow’s corrective action work mandated under its Hazardous Waste Management Facility Operating License.

The DEQ will host open houses from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. June 6 at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, 1710 West St. Andrews St. in Midland. The afternoon session will be held in Conference Room A, and the evening session will be held in the Community Room. Representatives from both the DEQ and Dow will be available to answer questions about the report and the cleanup work. Interested residents will be able to submit both oral and written comments.

Residents who cannot attend the open house are welcome to submit comments until June 20. Comments can be submitted to Al Taylor by email at taylora@michigan.gov or in writing to the DEQ, OWMRP, PO Box 30241, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7741. The DEQ will consider and provide a response to all significant public comments as part of the report review.